Construction and Expansion Update

"The drape concealing the half of the Winter Garden from the twin waterfalls back to the Smokin' wing of the resort have been removed, allowing employees and guests to get a peek at the progress of work on that protion of the expansion. Workers are waiting for the massive revolving door for the Winter Garden's main entrance and for the tempered glass flooring that will cover a small 'river' leading to a sculpture and water feature between the waterfalls, in a small rotunda area. There will be glass water walls and retail shops on either side of the rotunda. One side will feature a high-end jewelry shop, and the other will offer seasonal gifts. A new Opals pastry and coffee shop will be located at the Smokin' end of the Winter Garden, with sidewalk-café-style seating under one of the massive pyramid-shaped skylights. Near Opals will be a new elevator bank leading to the existing hotel wing and to a new VIP players lounge, with an indoor patio overlooking the Winter Garden. Workers are converting five hotel rooms to create the lounge, which will offer concierge, massage, entertainment and other luxury services. WOrk is progressing ont he new Brazilian steakhouse on the mezzanine level of the Winter Garden. A football shaped bar has been installed near the entrance, and crews have been laying floor tiles in the bar and kitchen areas. The steakhouse will have gold-toned walls , wood-clad columns matching those on the Witner Garden's main floor, and views of the palm trees and tropical plants throughout the Winter Garden. The restaurant is scheduled to open in the next few weeks. The new expanded buffet area alos is coming together. Hoods have been installed for the 'action stations,' where guests will be able to select a variety of entrees and watch them being prepared. There are three large seating areas in the buffet, including a garden-like terrace area near the main Winter Garden entrance. The hostess station has been installed, and floor tile has been laid on the terrace and in the massive entry area. Like the Brazilian steakhouse, the new buffet is slated to open around the end of November. When the buffet opens, the Team Member cafeteria will move into part of the current Garden Buffet while crews work to expand the existing cafeteria. Eventually, the Garden Buffet space will be split; part of it will be taken up with the enlarged Team Member cafeteria, and part will become the location of a new quick-food service area for guests. All guest rooms in the Tower are now ipen except for the suites. The luxury suites are being fiotted with marble-clad Jacuzzi tubs and steamrooms, among other amenitites. Those suites also will have access to a marble staricase leading to Two-One, the private paid-membership restaurant on the Tower's top floor. Elsewhere around the resort proper, crews are landscaping and resurfacing the parkinglots and roads around Turning Stone. Site work also has begun on the new golf dome, an indoor facility newar the co-generation plant designed to help golfers stay on top of their games year-round. Atunyote Golf Club was scheduled to finish its inagural season Sunday, but work continues on the sumptuous clubhouse at the course. Hardwood floors have been laid in the foyer and lounges, and crews were painting trim and interior doors last week. Trim work has been finished in the restaurant, and light fixtures have been installed. Kitchen fixtures and appliances also are largely in place." Brought to you by: "The Insider Employee News and Information." This is a weekly newsletter for the employees so that they can keep up on all the new things, that are going on and what is being offered by the Resort.